Posted on 06/19/2010 12:20:39 PM PDT by Sybeck1
Bellevue says 'you're out,' gay softball coach claims
A local women's softball coach said her team was banned from a Bellevue Baptist Church league after she acknowledged she is gay.
Jana J. Jacobson said church officials told her the "deviant" lifestyle would prevent the team from competing in Bellevue's adult women's softball league.
The coach said she was the only team member who attended meetings in preparation for the season that began June 8, and the only member questioned by Bellevue leadership. She wondered why her lifestyle mattered since they were playing softball.
"Finally, in my frustration, I said that I am going to be clear. I am gay, and I find all of this to be absurd and against the word of God as I know it," Jacobson said of a meeting with Bellevue officials.
Jim Barnwell, Bellevue's director of communications, said Tuesday afternoon the church has "no plans to comment on (Jacobson's story) at this time."
Bellevue was provided an outline of Jacobson's account of meetings with church officials. Barnwell also was asked whether the church's stance regarding homosexuality was part of the decision, if its account of the episode differed from Jacobson's and whether the player's acknowledgment played a part in the team not playing in Bellevue's league.
The church's decision does not appear to be illegal, said Richard Fields, a long-time local civil rights lawyer: "I don't think it's ever been challenged. This is the first time I've ever heard of anything like this."
In May, Jacobson's team, composed of straight and gay players, many of whom play one night a week in Bartlett, was looking for more games. They discovered Bellevue was allowing teams not associated with the Cordova church to join.
She registered, paid the entry fee and attended the preseason organizational meeting. This included outlines of league rules: no alcohol, smoking or cursing and no offensive terms on uniforms. She does not recall there being any morality clause.
Andy Beal, the church's minister for sports outreach, later contacted her seeking a followup meeting. Scheduling problems delayed the session until the day before the start of the season, Jacobson said.
During the meeting, Jacobson said another rule of "no public displays of affection" was added. Beal also told her they had received information about her lifestyle.
Jacobson, who says she's "very athletic in appearance," didn't want to lie, so she acknowledged she is gay.
"I continued with ... 'This is silly, we're simply here to play ball,'" the coach recounted in an e-mail about the events.
According to Jacobson, Scotty Shows, the church's recreation minister who also attended the second meeting, told her that because she was gay the team could not play. She was told that the team's participation would send a message to Bellevue members that the church condoned her lifestyle.
Bruce Gourley, executive director of the Baptist History and Heritage Society, said terms such as "deviant lifestyle" are common for Baptists opposing homosexuality.
"The issue of homosexuality and how Southern Baptists handle that is a huge issue with them. I haven't heard of a situation in a softball league, but it doesn't surprise me," said Gourley, who, according to his biography, holds a degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is online editor of Baptists Today.
He said odds are that there are homosexual members of Bellevue. They are tolerated "as long as they are quiet about it."
"A softball league seems like a minor playing field to take a stance," Gourley said, "but that is how seriously (Southern Baptists) believe about this issue."
Jacobson said she is not looking for the church league to rescind the decision, and wouldn't return anyway.
Fields was surprised at the church's stance.
"This is totally insane, and the gay community of Memphis should protest it, as well as the straight community," he said. "None of us should have to put up with that."
-- Clay Bailey: 529-2393
Baptist ping
There is a poll on the CA to voice your opinion.
“I am gay, and I find all of this to be absurd and against the word of God as I know it”
Try reading it then!
She thinks it is silly, but then, it is not her decision. She wants to be accepted as normal, but homosexuality is considered aberrant by Christians. Life is tough.
Evidently she does not know "the word of God".
And none of the church members should have to put up with a player openly living in sin. That's that.
Exactly...as YOU know it. Try reading the Word. God will not distinguish between any sexually abhorrent lifestyles on the day of judgement, be it pedo, homo, bestiality or prostitution. They are all a grievance to Him. Homosexuals were prevalent even in Moses day, and God judged as he did because it spreads disease, endangers marriage and well, is generally a pain in the neck for stability. Life is tough, but the rewards for making sound choices far outweigh the negatives.
Saying that is sure not going to help her case in the inevitabe law suit she's going to file.
Quite the opposite.
“God judged as he did because it spreads disease, endangers marriage and well, is generally a pain in the neck for stability. “
I think another reason is that it befouls the illustration of man being made in God’s image.
She argues her lifestyle has nothing to do with playing baseball. The Baptists argue that team or coach implies the Baptists condone her lifestyle choice. Let’s look to the government to see how it treats any requested use of its activities or sites for religious purposes. What, even the whiff of religion is considered to unconstitutionally taint the government? Guess the Baptists have a point. So long as the government (and the gays) can get the vapors whenever there’s a crucifix, a prayer or faith reference, the Baptists have a right to refuse to associate with someone who disses their standards.
She could start an all dyke league. They could keep out Bible believing Baptists.
Ever see any men in a lesbian bar? They are not welcomed.
Try marching in the Castro St. parade wearing a clerical collar and preaching the word of God. If you are suicidal.
Sign up for the Alice B. Toklas Gay Lesbo Democratic Club as a Bible believer that likes to pray in Jesus’ name before meetings. See if they let you in the door.
So they will keep others out of their little gatherings. But they get to crash all of yours.
Good for them!
Isn't that sexual harassment?
What would have been a great chance to witness and profess the Gospel to that woman.
Poll: Do you agree with a decision by Bellevue Baptist Church to ban a church league softball team because its coach acknowledged she is gay?
No 70% 2583
Yes 29% 1101
total votes: 3684
Poll: Do you agree with a decision by Bellevue Baptist Church to ban a church league softball team because its coach acknowledged she is gay?
Thanks for your vote.
RESPONSE PERCENT VOTES
No
70% 2583
Yes
29% 1102
total votes: 3685
Yet another “Hate the sin, hate the sinner more” moment.
Can’t she just go play in the Methodist church league?
Why did she feel compelled to blurt out that she is gay? And there are other gays on the team as well. So yes now that the ‘knowledge’ is out there, Bellvue had to take a stand (imo). But I’m still trying to understand why she felt it necessary to blurt that out. Almost sounds like a setup. The ‘final frontier’ so to speak...break down the walls of the Baptist (we’re so non-forgiving and unaccepting afterall) and create another legal challenge that will have nationwide ramifications.
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